The Cumberland County Water and Soil Conservation District is offering opportunities this summer to learn about the outdoors using the outdoor classroom at Obed River Park.
Soil Conservationist Janet Dowlen said the outdoor classroom was created in 2023 as a space where people could learn about Cumberland County’s natural life. Dowlen said the outdoor classroom has been the perfect way to show off the diverse nature.
“We have ended up being able to kind of teach some classes and do wildflower walks and things like that, that relate to some areas that many people don’t get to very often,” Dowlen said. “But we have some of the plant species and can show people what they might have popping up in their yard, at the edge of the woods, or along the roadside.”
Dowlen said most classes at the outdoor classroom are for children. Dowlen said she hopes children can learn and explore career opportunities at the outdoor classroom.
“I could see there was a need with kids these days,” Dowlen said. “You know they don’t really know what’s outside their door. They can see it, and if they can tie it to something or somebody where they can get an explanation, maybe of something up close, that’s a way for me to have affected somebody and help them find what they want to do.”
Dowlen said she tries to offer classes at the outdoor classroom that the community would be interested in. Dowlen said two subjects people are most interested in are birds and fish. Dowlen said TWRA has assisted in teaching people about the fish at the park.
“That’s always interesting because people think there’s nothing in the river,” Dowlen said. “But the TWRA folks, they, you know, shock, and of course that stuns the fish for a moment, and then they are okay, but what they do is catch them and they put them in a tank that is air raided and they bring them up to the classroom and they will put them on a table for everybody to see through the glass so they can see what creatures that they have caught.”
Dowlen said a majority of the classes are free for the public to attend. Dowlen said the classes are free as she wants everyone to have the opportunity to learn. The outdoor classroom will be hosting a class where people can learn how dams and culverts affect aquatic organisms and why barriers are removed for endangered species.
The class will take place Tuesday from 11am-12pm.